January 2024 Edition
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January 2024 Current Affairs MCQs & Solutions
Top national & international current affairs questions for CSS, PMS, FPSC, PPSC, and NTS screening tests.
#1161
Pakistan's application to join which global bloc in 2024 is seen as a move to complement its role in the SCO?
(a) G7
(b) BRICS
(c) NATO
(d) ASEAN
Explanation: Pakistan formally applied to join BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) in late 2023 and early 2024. Membership in both the SCO and BRICS would allow Pakistan to align its foreign policy with the 'Global South' and the emerging multi-polar world order led by its strategic partners.
#1162
Which Pakistani city hosted the first-ever 'OIC-SCO Joint Meeting' on the sidelines of an international conference in 2024?
(a) Karachi
(b) Islamabad
(c) Lahore
(d) Quetta
Explanation: Islamabad has become a hub for inter-organizational dialogue. In 2024, Pakistan facilitated informal discussions between OIC and SCO representatives to coordinate their stances on common challenges like Islamophobia, regional connectivity, and the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.
#1163
Which Pakistani airline resumed direct flights between Lahore and Tashkent in 2024 to facilitate SCO-linked business travel?
(a) Airblue
(b) PIA (Pakistan International Airlines)
(c) Serene Air
(d) Shaheen Air
Explanation: Restoring air connectivity is a pillar of Pakistan's 'Look Central Asia' policy. PIA resumed direct flights to Tashkent (Uzbekistan) in 2024 to support the growing number of businessmen, tourists, and students moving between the two SCO member states.
#1164
The 'Currency Swap' agreement discussed between Pakistan and Russia in 2024 aims to bypass which global system?
(a) SWIFT
(b) The Internet
(c) NATO
(d) The OIC
Explanation: Due to international sanctions, Pakistan and Russia have discussed settle bilateral trade in local currencies (Rupee and Ruble) or through barter. This move, discussed within the SCO framework, aims to facilitate trade in energy and agriculture while bypassing the dollar-denominated SWIFT banking system.
#1165
What is the primary export of Pakistan to the Central Asian SCO members as of 2024-2025?
(a) Crude oil
(b) Textiles, Pharmaceuticals, and Surgical Goods
(c) Heavy tanks
(d) Wood
Explanation: Pakistan remains a leading supplier of textiles and specialized surgical instruments to the Central Asian market. Additionally, Pakistani pharmaceutical products have gained significant market share in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan due to their quality and affordable prices.
#1166
Which Pakistani official visited Tashkent in mid-2024 to attend the SCO Foreign Ministers' meeting?
(a) Shah Mehmood Qureshi
(b) Ishaq Dar
(c) Bilawal Bhutto
(d) Hina Rabbani Khar
Explanation: Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar attended the SCO-CFM meeting in Tashkent in 2024. During his visit, he reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to regional connectivity and the fight against extremism, setting the stage for the successful hosting of the CHG summit in Islamabad.
#1167
The 2024-2025 relationship between Pakistan and Central Asian SCO members is best summarized by which phrase?
(a) State of war
(b) Geo-economic Partnership and Connectivity
(c) Total economic boycott
(d) Religious merger
Explanation: Pakistan's current focus is on turning its geographical location into a 'land-bridge.' The strategy involves transit trade agreements and the development of rail and road links to Central Asia, fulfilling the economic vision of the SCO Charter.
#1168
Who is the current Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations elected in 2024?
(a) Kamalesh Sharma
(b) Patricia Scotland
(c) Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey
(d) Don McKinnon
Explanation: Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, the former Foreign Minister of Ghana, was elected as the new Secretary-General of the Commonwealth during the CHOGM 2024 summit. She succeeded Patricia Scotland and is tasked with leading the 56-nation body toward goals of sustainable development, economic resilience, and addressing climate change, which are of significant interest to Pakistan.
#1169
Where was the 27th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) held in October 2024?
(a) Rwanda
(b) Samoa
(c) United Kingdom
(d) Sri Lanka
Explanation: The 2024 CHOGM was held in Apia, Samoa. It was the first time the meeting was hosted by a Pacific small island developing state. The Pakistani delegation at the summit focused on advocating for climate justice, referring to the devastating 2022 floods, and sought increased support from the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub.
#1170
What is the total value of the IMF program for Pakistan approved in late 2024, supported by diplomatic efforts from Commonwealth nations?
(a) $3 Billion
(b) $5 Billion
(c) $7 Billion
(d) $9 Billion
Explanation: In September 2024, the IMF Executive Board approved a 37-month Extended Fund Facility (EFF) for Pakistan worth approximately $7 billion. Pakistan's economic diplomacy, involving support from Commonwealth peers like the UK and Canada who advocated for Pakistan's fiscal recovery, was a key factor in securing the program's approval.
#1171
Which Pakistani official attended the 2024 CHOGM in Samoa representing the head of government?
(a) The President
(b) The Prime Minister
(c) The Foreign Minister
(d) The Speaker of the National Assembly
Explanation: The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Pakistan represented the country at the 27th CHOGM in Apia, Samoa, in October 2024. During the summit, Pakistan emphasized the need for a reform of the global financial architecture and greater debt relief for climate-vulnerable developing nations.
#1172
The 26th Constitutional Amendment passed in Pakistan in 2024 was discussed in Commonwealth legal forums as an effort to:
(a) Abolish the parliament
(b) Institutionalize judicial efficiency and Constitutional Benches
(c) Ban regional languages
(d) Increase the term of military officers
Explanation: The 26th Amendment was a significant reform that established Constitutional Benches in the Supreme Court and High Courts. In regional legal dialogues within the Commonwealth, Pakistan presented this as a step toward modernizing its legal system and ensuring the separation of powers while maintaining judicial efficiency.
#1173
The 2024-2025 future outlook for Pakistan in the Commonwealth focuses on which 'High-Tech' sector?
(a) Abolishing the internet
(b) Artificial Intelligence and Digital Economy
(c) Building wooden ships
(d) None of the above
Explanation: Pakistan is actively engaging with the Commonwealth on the 'Digital Silk Road' and AI governance. The focus for 2025 is on utilizing Commonwealth expertise to modernize Pakistan's digital payment systems and to increase its share in the global IT services market.
#1174
Which Pakistani official was elected to the Commonwealth Lawyers Association leadership in 2024?
(a) A high-ranking general
(b) A senior legal expert / Bar member
(c) A local police officer
(d) None of the above
Explanation: Pakistan's legal fraternity is highly active in the Commonwealth. The election of a Pakistani representative to the CLA leadership in 2024 reflects the country's commitment to upholding judicial standards and international legal cooperation within the bloc.
#1175
The $7 billion IMF program approved for Pakistan in September 2024 emphasizes which WTO-related reform?
(a) Increasing import tariffs
(b) Banning foreign investment
(c) Trade liberalization and reducing anti-export bias
(d) Fixing the exchange rate
Explanation: In September 2024, the IMF Executive Board approved a $7 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) for Pakistan. A key condition of this program is the implementation of structural reforms that include trade liberalization. This involves reducing high import tariffs and removing non-tariff barriers that create an 'anti-export bias,' effectively aligning Pakistan’s domestic fiscal policy with the WTO's goals of facilitating smoother global trade.
#1176
The 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) of the WTO, attended by Pakistan, was held in 2024 in which city?
(a) Geneva
(b) Abu Dhabi
(c) Buenos Aires
(d) Nairobi
Explanation: The 13th WTO Ministerial Conference took place in Abu Dhabi, UAE, in February 2024. Pakistan's delegation focused on issues such as a permanent solution for public stockholding for food security and the extension of the moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions, which is vital for the country's growing digital economy.
#1177
Which Pakistani official currently serves as the Chairperson of the WTO's Committee on Trade and Development for the 2024-2025 term (historically held by Pak)?
(a) The Prime Minister
(b) The Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the WTO
(c) The Chief of Army Staff
(d) The Finance Minister
Explanation: Pakistan maintains a permanent mission in Geneva dedicated specifically to the WTO. The Permanent Representative is a senior diplomat who represents Pakistan in various committees. Holding a chairperson position in a committee allows Pakistan to influence the agenda and prioritize the development needs of the Global South.
#1178
Which international body's 'Anti-Dumping' rules did Pakistan use to protect its domestic steel industry from cheap imports in 2023-2024?
(a) United Nations
(b) World Trade Organization (WTO)
(c) NATO
(d) SAARC
Explanation: The WTO's Anti-Dumping Agreement allows members to take action against imports that are sold at less than their normal value and cause 'material injury' to domestic industry. Pakistan's National Tariff Commission has frequently used these rules to impose anti-dumping duties on steel and chemical products from various countries to ensure a level playing field.
#1179
Which Pakistani city hosted a regional 'Trade Facilitation' workshop co-organized by the WTO and the Asian Development Bank in 2024?
(a) Lahore
(b) Islamabad
(c) Karachi
(d) Peshawar
Explanation: Islamabad frequently hosts regional workshops to train officials from Central and South Asia on WTO compliance. These events focus on streamlining border procedures and the implementation of the Single Window system, reinforcing Pakistan's role as a regional leader in trade facilitation under the CAREC program.
#1180
The WTO's 'Fisheries Subsidies Agreement', ratified by several members in 2024, aims to:
(a) Increase the number of fishing boats
(b) Eliminate subsidies that contribute to overfishing and illegal fishing
(c) Ban all seafood trade
(d) Nationalize the Arabian Sea
Explanation: This landmark agreement, reached at MC12 and finalized at MC13, is the first WTO agreement focused on environmental sustainability. For Pakistan, it means phasing out subsidies that encourage unsustainable fishing in the Arabian Sea, helping to preserve fish stocks while ensuring that small-scale local fishermen are protected.